The Finest Hours [2016] ★★½

As far as sea disaster movies go, this one isn’t bad. But if there’s anything I learned from Hollywood it’s that a true story doesn’t always guarantee a great movie, and “The Finest Hours” is proof of that. But at least I can begin on a positive note: Chris Pine is a very likable actor and he is well cast as one of the four members of the Coast Guard who set out to rescue more than 30 stranded sailors trapped aboard a sinking vessel during a deadly storm in February of 1952. All of this is vividly and credibly dramatized and director Craig Gillespie (“Lars and the real Girl”) couldn’t ask for a better cast, which includes Casey Affleck, Eric Bana and the underrated Ben Foster. So why didn’t I feel the full impact of the story once it was all over? Probably because there are no real surprises here. One can easily take away the essential facts from the movie trailer or even the synopsis. The film itself doesn’t provide us with an unforgettable experience, even though it’s undoubtedly sincere in its effort to pay tribute to these brave men.